(also Hal·low·e'en ) / ˌhæləʊˈiːn; NAmE -loʊ-/ noun
[ C , U ] the night of 31st October when it was believed in the past that dead people appeared from their graves, and which is now celebrated in the US, Canada and Britain by children who dress as ghosts , witches , etc.
—see also trick or treat
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: contraction of All Hallow Even .